Palpable fear and anxiety have taken over the camps of members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State who are yearning for the Chairmanship positions in the entire 33 local government and 35 local development council areas (LCDAs).
As the governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi concludes plans to send the names of those to be appointed as chairmen of the caretaker committees, party members are not sure of where and who will be lucky to be picked.
The situation is tensed because of the claim that those who will be shortlisted would be the party’s flag bearers for the local government elections that will be held later in the year.
PMParrotng gathered that the task of putting the Chairmanship list was given to the leaders of the party about two weeks ago who have been meeting day and night to arrive at selecting the best members who are loyal and had worked assiduously for the party’s success in the State.
A source inside Ajimobi’s government informed PMParrotng that the leaders have completed their assignment and submitted the list of shortlisted Caretaker nominee members to the Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi for onward transmission to the House of Assembly for approval.
The House, which is currently attending a three day seminar at an event centre in Ibadan, may have to recall its members for an emergency sitting on Thursday 30th March, 2017 to deliberate on the proposed list of the Caretaker Chairmen nominee that will comprise both the already existing 33 local government areas and 35 new local council development areas in the State.
Another source who should know the workings of government informed PMParrotng that the 18 APC Lawmakers in the State House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Hon. Michael Adeshina Adeyemo met with the Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi on Monday in his office where they had an elaborate meeting on many issues including the composition of the Caretaker Committee Chairmen.
The source further informed that the list comprised the names of some ex-Chairmen whose tenure expired on 1st February, 2017 while others were replaced.
According to the source, “for instance, in Ibadan North West Local Government, Alhaji Bosun Ajuwon former Chairman of Water Corporation of Oyo State was nominated to replace the immediate past Chairman of the Council, Mr Wasiu Olatubosun while in Ibadan South East Local Government, Mr Teslim Ajimobi, younger brother to the Oyo State Governor is being penciled down to replace Alhaji Najeemdeen Bolaji Abass.
It will be recalled that both Wasiu Olatubosun and Najeemdeen Abass are among the four ex-Caretaker Chairmen that spent close to five years in their respective local government areas as Caretaker Chairmen. Therefore, they have been replaced to give room for others that are also qualified to occupy their position.”
“The Governor is proposing to appoint the new Caretaker Chairmen that will be there for six months before the election is conducted so as to avoid leaving a vacuum in the administration of the third tier of government in the State since the election earlier scheduled for 11th February, 2017 by the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) has been put on hold pending the resolution of the legal crisis that led to the suspension of the said election.”
On what will be the fate of the former Chairmen that would be replaced who were also preparing to participate in the primary election of the party for the council election, the source hinted that the Governor in his magnanimity might compensate them with other juicy positions since they all worked hard for the success of the party in their respective local government areas.
Packaged by Omotoyosi Jesuleye
